It is time for someone to start thinking outside the box. There was no snow last year, I wonder how much of that overtime, sand, and salt are left in the budget. Maybe they should change the shifts of employees that plow so roads are clear in the morning.
The fire department was doing a good job with property inspections and that was taken away. After spending the money to train and certify the firemen as code enforcement officers they sit in the station. A major consolidation would be the police and fire department. Training them to be Safety Officers would enable them to respond to both fire and police calls.
21 comments:
Spend, Spend, and spend we need some drastic cuts to the city budget. Time to break up the the 4that vote together, good or bad. Storm fell right in line.
Look the first thing that needs to be done is to SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS , Hold People accountable and RIGHT size the work force . The PAYROLL is the MAJOR driver of expense when coupled with the associated benefits . I'd venture somewhere between 60-75% of the budget -- so this area needs to be right sized .
Many cities WENT to Departments of PUBLIC Safety which consolidated Police and Fire UNDER ONE LEADER Many yrs ago .As a college student several decades ago i worked in SUCH an department . Cross training of functions was the norm NOT the exception .
The city is NOT deployed for effectiveness, and suffers from a malaise-- that "this is GOOD ENOUGH for OGDENSBURG" .Things are stale and the status quo is worshipped . -- This is the fault of the leadership . New leadership is sorely needed that GETS the JOB done and can manage city hall . The problem STARTS at the top.
Lets start at the top.. Cut Scioras wages.. He makes to much for a city of less than 10000. Cut woods salary by twenty percent.. If they dont like it contract or not sever them.. Consolodation is a good idea but it takes time.. get it started.. If the unions dont go along lay them off...DPW employees need to do more... Its disgusting to watch a truck driver and a clam driver sit on their asses while someone else works.. They wont even rake leaves and clean up our messes on the streets.. If contracts interfere with progress then contracts need to be made that address these issues.Do a study about having a Volunteer fire dept and cover all the pros and cons.. Possibly we could get in touch with the legislators and consoladate the Sheriffs Depta help with the Police... All ideas to be looked at.
We really need a council that looks at these things and not just ready to accept the status quo as we have been...
Hows the Murder investigation going guys.
The ideas put forth by 921 could work with a little effort. Again in the paper today the fort wants 10.000.. Tell them sorry but raise your own money we cant afford it.. If there is a way to use some of the Grant Money then do it..
We need Mr. Woods to do his job. Having someone identify grants for him is unnecessay as he was hired to do these things. The City needs to stay out of private enterprise and competition with local people. People like Chadwick Reality need to be identified and their taxes and water and sewer rates adjusted accordingly... Also how is that issue going. Over a year ago she promised to move and Manager stated he took her at her word.. Is she moved? Are her water and sewer rates adjusted if not?? City spending alot of time harrassing Mr. Rose and also going to spend alot of money fixing what Mr. Rose has complained about.. All of this falls with the Mayor and City Manager...
Actually the solution to our problems is us.. As taxpayers we dont hold anyone responsible. We elect do gooders and popular people then the process is done for us.. We dont attend meetings, we dont call our councilors and hod them accountable we only attend meetings when we have a problem but we accept the status quo for answers. I,ll get back to you is their favorite.. Councilors like Mr. Powers think public hearings are useless as only those opposed to things attend.. When we do have problmes and want to speak the mayor sits with his stop watch giving us our five minutes and no more yet presentations others are greeted with whatever time necessary.. This is what has to change around here.. Us accepting status quo answers and results from councilmen and manager who really dont care. If we accept this we deserve this....
I totally agree! The solution is on the taxpayers. That's us!
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The atmosphere at council is deification of the status quo.
The council needs new blood , Smart, ACTION oriented types who REFUSE to tolerate maintenance of the status quo , good ole boy cronyism or who are MATURE enough not to have a HIGH NEED FOR BEING LIKED .
Then new leaders need THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS REQUIRED that will move this city in the right direction .
We need to elect only the best and brightest who have professional management experience and can act from positions of strength rather than ole boy cronyism or party hacks.
Tall order -- Do You Think Ogdensburg can handle this kind of change ??
It is all on us, get involved call your representatives. or continue to blog about it anonymously bitches.
I cant imagine not voting status quo. Powers and Vaugh raise their hands in unison with Nelson on almost everything. Remember Charlie McCarthy. He was a puppett controlled by Edgar Bergan years ago.. Both Powers andf Vaugh have little slits in the back of their coats so Nelson can pull the cords.. The trouble with them is they can spin. Very well versed but not to knowledgable.Cilley is beinging to fall in line with them and the other three nitpick every meeting about nothing..
To let this Scoria and Woods continue in the direction they are going is criminal. We need cuts to this budget so our taxes do not go up not this stupid cutting small items.. As stated above their wages should be cut on pure common sense only. Our population is less than ten thousand now and no signs of getting anymore people interested in living here.
Citys getting into the landlord business and construction business is routinely happening now. Its wrong gentlemen. Shut down the Lockwood areana and close the pool part of each week.. Give the building to the Fort project and see if they can put it to good use. Cut expenditures for traveling. Quit having phony events like the summit... No purpose for this kind of thing in Ogdensburg.. Direct the police to retake the City. Give the Firemen some duties for idle time..
We are looking at almost a million increase in spending. What is wrong with this picture. How much is bennies, and how much is extra spending.
I believe every job should be spared but attrition and consolidation should be the final goal. This is not the time to add someone to unemployment but to make changes that will better serve the city and the tax payers.
Anon 4:23 do not forget ciley he is part of that group.
I had no doubt it would pass. One vote suprised me however and that was Powers. Nelson gave him permission to vote as he did after he was assured it would pass. Remember Nicky Vaugh coming to our houses and saying he wanted to bring industry here and no new taxes... His actions speak volumes for his credibliity. Keep up the good work guys soon our population will be under 9000 trying for 8
Nick at Night :still a wannabe needs real world WORKING experience and to have serious responsibility before he "seasons" . I agree the Burg is heading for perhaps 7500 as all those with options exercise them . The Brain Drain will continue -- not much future here .
12 people comment, 10 anonymously, really bitches!!
Someone mentioned that it is on us. Well guess what, it is!!
I attended the meeting last night and i could not take it. it was a bloody circus. Vaugh with his winded retoric that amounted to wasted time trying to crunch numbers. I witnessed more waffling from the DEMS to include Morley than you would see in a morning at the International House of Pancakes. Failing to support initiatives to enhance our region due to special interests. Who are these people serving? The taxpayer or local clubs. Chamber Pres. J. McGrath said it best. Sales tax helps to reduce property tax, isnt that the issue here. We need to develop commerce in our community and sell the resources we have available to benefit the city. These guys are nuts!! Morley and Powers look to Whack the Remington and Library resulting in Washington street going Dark!! start the final nail in the coffin. Tough decisions....Maybe, the ones you bitches complain about above are the only ones doing anything.
Get involved run your mouth at a meeting or call your members of council instaed of blogging anonymously!!!
Most of us do the anom thing because of fear of retribution. If not from the council but their right arm, the law.. Chief will act as told by Scoria.. Others will act as told by Scoria also. Thats why Rose getting the hard shaft from Mallette. Ridicule the word of the day to those oppossed. Remember the owner of the diner in the new civic center. He opposed the wishes of Woods and got mad at Woods when Woods screwed him. Woods had the man arrested and he was months in the criminal system.This is whyAnom..
If people congregate for council meetings and things get loud the mayor gavels and has the chief remove. I,ve been there more than once in the past.
The PD knows who was involved in the killing of the older gentleman on Ford st. but they would rather get minor fdrug info from them than pressing them.. Why? Because when this PD gets involved in Murder investigations they f--k up royaly..During the Oxly trial at least three inconsistant statements made by police
Listen many of us HAVE been to the council and have testified etc SEVERAL times in the past over a period time to absolutely no avail .
THIs is a CLOSED minded group who's insecurity and inexperience has severely limited any potential this town HAD due to many poor decisions all favoring short term rather than long term strategic moves .
They HAVE NOT LISTENED to any constructive criticism and made any bold constructive decisions to position the city well for the future . They often take the easy way out , cave in to either the state or county and seem to personalize any feedback.
The ONLY way to change this is to ENCOURAGE BRIGHT, EXperienced folks to run for office and to ELECT them .
Talking anymore with THIS council , Mayor or Manager is a WASTE of time unless you want to hear the party line or spin control .
The voting booth is the ONLY answer in this case
Anon 2:32 you are paranoid.!!! Are you really scared. Have you ever heard of Freedom of Speech, that is a little thing we call a constitutional right. I have never known or heard of anyone removed from a meeting recently. Your a loser!! Thats the problem run your mouth in a blog or stand and get involved. everyone wants everybody else to to the job, some decent people step up and all they get is hidden cries from cowards.
Your probably one of the individuals on social services blogging all day draining our way of life here.
Bruce.. I,m obviously not the insecure one.. No I dont recieve Social Serice but I am glad there are those in the world that will help unfortunate people unlike you. I would love to see you live on what the recieve monthly. This Anom blogging isnt because we cant exercise our right of freedom of speach but for the reasons above. Unlike a tough guy like you I am nervous when getting set up for harrasment.. What a man Bruce I wish I was just like you.
wish away. maybe some day you will be like me, candy ass
Tough crowd! Time has come to speak out. Time to let our City Representatives know what we are thinking.
We are the voters and when it comes to an election we voter for name recognition and not on the issues. Time to start looking at the issues.
This has happened in this county too many times. I think the best criteria to be elected is looking the part. They have no clue what is going, but they have name recognition and they look good. We elect a DA that had no experience. We elect judges with no experience. We elect legislators who have no clue what the issues are!
Time to vote on the issues!
Well Poly i agree with you MOST intelligent folks have ALWAYS voted on ISSUES>
Unfortunately the prevailing opinion here in town SEEMS to be go along to get along . Or "we KNOW him or I bowl , hunt , fish with him or any number of OTHER things THAT DO NOT AMT to QUALIFICATIONS for policy making in a complex organization with a multi-million dollar budget. Again all are nice folks -- they really are !
Thus we have paid and paid dearly for these "good ole boy" types of voters who have opted to maintain the status quo by NOT thinking ISSUES when in the voting booth and opting instead for "the Cult of Personality" .
The job requires serious , smart decision- makers NOT smiling "grip n' grinners"
Look,This is a very difficult and complex period of sustained economic decline-- now almost a decade in duration. One that may very well see transformational change at the national level and/or decline of economic status within the world community.
This is not the work of smiling nice guys but serious , strategic , courageous and dedicated public servants who understand the role and do not seek to be a career politician and are willing to make seriously difficult decisions , some involving personnel .
ONE GOOD MOVE that apparently was JUST done by the Mayor and council was to increase the number of BEAT cops -- NOW lets start managing for REAL results and declare war on Ogdensburg's criminal element - .
When that day comes i'll respect the achievement and gladly PRAISE the accomplishment .
We all REALLY want this city to thrive not decline . We all want to live in a clean , safe , vibrant place that we can ALL be proud to call home .
I have faith that this can be done IF we WISH TO MAKE it HAPPEN
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